Improvement in lamps



N. L. RIGBY.

Lamp.

No. 203,374.. Patented May Y7, 1878.

ANY.: WM

WITNBS ATTORNEYS.

N4FETERS.`PHOTOUTNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C4 p tain.

,UNITED STATEs PATENT OEEIGE.

[NICHOLAS i.. EIGBY, oF wINEIELD, KANsAs, AssiGNoR To EiMsELF AND JOHNI). PRYOR, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENTV IN LAMPS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 203,374, dated May 7,1878; application filed l December 4, 1877.

` proved lamp; Fig. 2, a detachable burnershell capable of being placedon the bowl;

and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sections of' diEerent valves for theVdetachable oil-fountain.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention has reference to such improvements in lamps that a lampon the common principle, or one in which the oil is consumed and loweredbeneath the burner, may be combined with one or more lamps on thefountain principle, in which the oil does not get lower beneath theburners, being constantly fed, and as rapidly as consum ed, fromthefoun- By this arrangement a lamp having burnerssupplied with oil onboth principles may be obtained, which is of great convenience, as itcombines two or more lamps in a more compact space, and admits a greateror less degree of illumination, as required.

The invention consists of a bowl having one or more straight or curvedarms, with burnercups, the bowl being made with a horizontal top andcircumferential flange, to form a seat for the detachable fountain,having a center valve that is automatically opened when the fountain isseated on the bowl.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a central bowl of suitable size,which is supported by any xture, either from the ceiling, top of car,wall, or other point, or on a stand,

. as desired. From the bowl A are branching out one or more tubulararms, B, which support burner-cups C at their outer ends.

The bowl A is constructed with a horizontal top and with acircumferential flange, a, that extends to-some height above the top ofthe bowl, and forms with the same the seat for a fountain, D. Theflanged top admits the convenient filling, when the bowl is to be usedas a common lamp, by pouring the oil on the top part, from which it runsinto the bowl through the central opening b of the same.

When the bowl is used witli" the fountain, the latter is supportedsufficiently above the oil in the bowl to prevent its coming in contactwith the oil, and thereby the dripping, when lifted out of its place.The projecting flange catches all drip from the valve d ofthe fountainwhen the fountain is put in or taken out, and catches also any oil thatmay exude from the fountain.

In case the lamps are used in cars or other vehicles, the encirclingflange prevents the oil from rsplashing over when they are in motion.

The valve d at the bottom of the fountain may be made of any suitableconstruction, either of a stopper and spring-stem, as shown in Figs. 3and 4, or of a valve-seat and valve with angular spring-arm, that isengaged by the top of the bowl when inserted in the center opening ofthe same, as in Fig. 1, or of any other construction that opens thefountain automatically on being placed in position in the bowl.

The bottom exit-hole of the bowl A, as well as the bottom supply-holesof' the cups C, are provided with channeled plugs or checks e, for thepurpose of allowing the passage of' the oil, but preventing the suddenflowing of the oil either from the bowl, in case the lamp be leaned orswung to either side, into the arm or arms lowered thereby, or from thearm or arms on the higher side to the arm or arms on the lower side, orinto the cups.

The burner-cups C are also arranged with an encircling flange, f, attheupper end of each cup, to catch all oil that may loe drawn up bycapillary attraction or otherwise, and prevent it from running down theoutside of the cup. The flange f has a slight upward curve, and anopening from it into the cup, to allow the oil to run back into the cup.

When the center bowl is to be used as a `common lamp, the fountain isremoved anda hollow shell or support, A', having a common lamp-burner,as shown in Fig; 2, placed in position on the bowl, the wick beingpassed down through the center hole into the lower part of the bowl, andthe same thus used to supply oil to the common lamp above, as well as tothe burner-cups connected thereto. The burner may also be screwed intothe center opening b directly, if' desired, though the use of the -shellis opens automatically when the. fountain is placed in position on thebowl, substantially. as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in lamps, the combination of a bowl, with iiat topand circumferential flange, with a fountain fitting the anged top of thebowl, to prevent any dripf ping or escape of oil, substantially as de;ln

scribed.

NICHOLAS L. RIGBY.

Witnesses GEORGE W. ROBINSON, CHARLES E. LOVE.

